Back-to-school season is packed with emotions like joy, nerves, excitement, and a whole lot of worry about what’s to come. That’s why in this episode I’m sharing eight tiny tweaks that have helped my kids (and me!) face new seasons with courage. From creating side-by-side conversations and normalizing anxiety, to adding comfort anchors, practicing new situations, and celebrating milestones, these small shifts make a big difference in helping kids flex their “fear muscle.”

Rooted in my experiences as a former first-grade teacher and now as a mom to four, this conversation is all about giving our kids the tools to navigate uncertainty with resilience while reminding us as parents that our role isn’t to remove the hard things, but to walk with our kids through them. This episode will encourage you to approach back-to-school with fresh eyes, practical ideas, and a little more peace as you help your children step bravely into the year ahead.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Check out Sissy Goff on Instagram @sissygoff.

👉Get your Happy Notes to send in your kids’ lunch everyday. Use code ‘PODCAST’ for 10$ off your order! 

👉Check out my favorite Back to School Books on Amazon!

👉And lastly, don’t forget to download my FREE Affirmations for Kids List!

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friendship is something so many of us long for, yet it can feel harder than ever to build as adults. Between busy schedules, social media, past hurts, and the fear of putting ourselves out there, it’s easy to believe that deep, meaningful friendships just aren’t possible anymore. 

Today, I’m joined by my longtime friend and mentor, Crystal Paine, for an honest conversation about why friendship matters so much, and why it’s one of the most important cornerstones of a happy, purposeful life. Crystal vulnerably shares her own journey through loneliness, friendship breakups, insecurity, and learning to build healthier relationships rooted in authenticity instead of approval. Together, we talk about healing after friendship wounds, recognizing unhealthy expectations, learning to ask for help, embracing vulnerability, and why community isn’t something that simply happens, it’s something we intentionally create through small, consistent actions. 

We also share practical, approachable ways to cultivate deeper friendships, whether that’s being the first to reach out, asking better questions, remembering the little things that matter to people, or simply sending a text to let someone know they’re on your mind. If you’ve ever felt lonely, struggled to find your people, or wondered if it’s worth trying again after being hurt, I hope this conversation reminds you that meaningful friendships are still possible. 

Sometimes all it takes is one tiny tweak, one courageous invitation, or one small act of vulnerability to begin building the kind of community your heart has been longing for.

👉Check out more from Crystal on Instagram @themoneysavingmom or at www.moneysavingmom.com! 

👉Get 7 Meal Rotations Ideas for FREE

👉 Check out our Happy Notes Note Pad and use code ‘PODCAST’ for 10% off your entire order!

👉Check out Crystal’s book for a treasure trove of knowledge: 

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer has a funny way of making us feel like we should be doing more. More adventures, more Pinterest-worthy meals, more memory-making, more productivity—and if we’re not careful, we can end up comparing our real lives to everyone else’s highlight reels. 

In this episode, I’m sharing something a little more personal: the 25 ways I’ve intentionally lowered the bar this summer so I can stop chasing perfection and start enjoying the season I’m actually living. From letting my kids make the same lunches every day and embracing paper plates to saying no to summer camps, accepting a messier house, and giving myself permission to change my work schedule when life gets chaotic, I’m pulling back the curtain on what “good enough” really looks like in our home. I also share the mindset shifts, simple questions, and “summer minimum standards” that have helped me focus less on impossible expectations and more on what actually matters—raising kids who are safe, loved, and making meaningful memories, even if they don’t look Instagram-perfect. 

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, behind, or like you’re somehow missing out this summer, I hope this conversation gives you permission to let go of unrealistic expectations, embrace this season for what it is, and discover that sometimes lowering the bar is exactly what allows you to enjoy your life the most.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Simple Purposeful Living Gratitude Journal use code ‘PODCAST’ for 10% off your entire order!

👉 www.aquatru.com and use code ‘PURPOSEFUL’ for 20% off!

👉 shop.simplepurposefulliving.com and use code ‘PODCAST’ for 10% off your entire order!

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever taken the Enneagram quiz… and immediately wondered if you actually got your type right? You’re not alone! This week, I’m chatting with Enneagram coach Amy Wicks (The Wholehearted Enneagram) about why the Enneagram is so much more than a personality test, it’s a tool for understanding the why behind your thoughts, habits, fears, and relationships. 

We talk about why so many women mistype themselves (I definitely did!), how each of the nine types is motivated differently, and the simple “tiny tweak” every type can make to grow in confidence, connection, and self-compassion. Whether you’re brand new to the Enneagram or already know your number, this conversation will help you better understand yourself, love the people around you more intentionally, and maybe even give yourself a little more grace along the way.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Check out more from Amy on Instagram @wholeheartedenneagram!

👉Pre-order Amy’s upcoming book, Wholehearted Enneagram: The Journey From Type to Transformation as God's Beloved.

👉Take the FREE Enneagram Quiz!

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt like you’re carrying the invisible weight of your family while quietly wondering, “When is it going to be my turn”? You’re not alone. In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with psychologist, author, and mom Dr. Morgan Cutlip to unpack the mental load so many women carry every single day. 

We talk about why moms so easily lose themselves in the demands of family life, how guilt and impossible expectations keep us stuck, and why waiting for permission to prioritize yourself often means waiting forever. 

Dr. Morgan shares practical, grace-filled strategies for communicating your needs, setting healthy boundaries, navigating the emotional labor of motherhood, and redefining what self-care really looks like beyond bubble baths and spa days. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by summer schedules, struggling with mom guilt, or simply craving a little more peace in the middle of the chaos, this conversation is full of encouraging reminders and simple, actionable tweaks that will help you reclaim your momentum, one small step at a time.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉The Better Share Book

👉Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself Book

👉You can find more from Dr. Morgan Cutlip on Instagram @drmorgancutlip, or on her website at www.drmorgancutlip.com! 

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer rarely goes exactly as planned….and that’s okay. In this episode, I’m sharing an honest halfway-through-the-summer update on what’s actually working in our home, what hasn’t gone according to plan, and the tiny tweaks that are helping us navigate a season full of unexpected schedule changes, backyard construction, growing kids, and shifting expectations. From realizing I don’t have to be part of every childhood memory to giving myself permission to lower the bar on hard days, I’m reflecting on the mindset shifts that have brought more peace and flexibility into our summer.

I also share practical updates on our family rhythms, including how kid-made lunches, sibling lunch dates, family dinners, screen time boundaries, weekly planning, and kids doing their own laundry are all playing out in real life. You’ll hear what we’ve had to adjust, what surprised me the most (hello, grocery bill!), and why asking one simple question—“What do I need right now?” has become my favorite tiny tweak for navigating a season that feels wonderfully full but often outside my control. If your summer hasn’t looked exactly how you imagined, I hope this episode reminds you that you don’t need a perfect plan, you just need the flexibility to make small, intentional adjustments along the way.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉 www.aquatru.com and use code ‘PURPOSEFUL’ for 20% off!

👉 shop.simplepurposefulliving.com and use code ‘PODCAST’ for 10% off your entire order!

👉 Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life Book

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer is supposed to feel restful, yet so many of us reach the end of the season feeling more exhausted than when it began. 

Today I’m sharing what I’ve been learning about rest after working through burnout, inflammation, and the realization that I had unknowingly tied my sense of purpose to productivity. Through conversations with my counselor, doctor, and business coach, I’ve discovered that rest is about so much more than sleep. I’m diving into the seven different types of rest: physical, mental, sensory, creative, social, emotional, and spiritual, and sharing the simple, practical ways I’m learning to recognize and build them into my everyday life. 

From brain dumps and morning porch time to friend dates and putting my phone away, these tiny tweaks have helped me stop chasing the idea of rest and start practicing it instead. If you’ve been feeling tired, overstimulated, or stretched thin, this episode will help you identify what kind of rest you actually need and encourage you to create more space for it without guilt. Because rest isn’t lazy, it’s one of the most purposeful things we can do for ourselves and the people we love.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉 www.aquatru.com and use code ‘PURPOSEFUL’ for 20% off!

👉 shop.simplepurposefulliving.com and use code ‘PODCAST’ for 10% off your entire order!

👉 Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life Book

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m joined by a VERY special guest, my husband, Scott as we celebrate 20 years of marriage and reflect on the lessons we’ve learned through two decades of life together. 

From raising four kids and navigating financial struggles to walking through adoption, heartbreak, personal growth, and everything in between, we share an honest conversation about what has strengthened our marriage over the years. We talk about the importance of friendship, communication, prayer, mentorship, and the small everyday moments that often matter more than grand gestures. 

You’ll hear us discuss hard seasons we’ve faced, how we’ve changed for the better, what we hope our children learn from our relationship, and why laughter continues to be one of the most important ingredients in our marriage. Whether you’re newly married, deep in the parenting years, or simply looking for encouragement to invest in your closest relationships, this candid anniversary conversation is full of practical wisdom, heartfelt reflections, and a reminder that strong marriages are built one small, intentional choice at a time.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Winner at Dinner - Game

👉Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life Book

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer may be full of sunshine and slower schedules, but if you’re the one responsible for feeding everyone all day long, it can also feel like an endless cycle of meals, snacks, and dishes. In this episode, I’m sharing the simple systems that help me keep food manageable during the summer months, from our family’s “burger of the week” tradition and cook-once-eat-twice meal strategy to kid-led lunches, snack baskets, and even the occasional 3 p.m. ice cream celebration. These practical ideas not only reduce decision fatigue and lighten your mental load, but they also help kids build independence and valuable life skills along the way. If you’re looking for realistic ways to simplify meal planning, make summer meals more fun, and create meaningful family connections around the table, this episode is packed with easy tweaks that can make a big difference.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Winner at Dinner - Game

👉Simple Purposeful Living Meal Planner and use code ‘PODCAST’ for 10% off your entire order!

👉FREE Summer Planning Printable

👉Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life Book

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever spent weeks planning for summer only to feel overwhelmed once it actually arrives, this episode is for you. 

After talking through summer mindset shifts and planning strategies the last few weeks, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing exactly what summer looks like in our home this year. From how I’m structuring my work schedule and teaching more independence through age-appropriate responsibilities, to the technology boundaries we’re testing with our kids, I’m sharing the simple rhythms helping our family create a summer that feels intentional instead of chaotic. 

The goal isn’t a perfect plan, it’s building a flexible framework that supports the life you want to live. If you’re looking for practical ideas to simplify summer, reduce the mental load, and enjoy this season a little more, I think you’ll find a few tweaks worth trying.

Mentioned in This Episode:

👉Unlock your hair & skin’s true potential with 20% Off AquaTru Shower using

code “SHPURPOSEFUL” at aquatru.com. 

👉E158 - Mindset Shifts & Tiny Tweaks to Step Into Summer Successfully

👉 shop.simplepurposefulliving.com and use code ‘PODCAST’ for 10% off your entire order!

👉 Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life Book

🌟We’re here to help you live a life filled with intention and joy. Let’s stay connected and spark meaningful conversations on our vibrant social media platforms:

📸 Instagram: Discover daily inspiration and visual storytelling that will uplift your spirit!

👍 Facebook: Join our thriving community, engage in discussions, and get exclusive content!

📍Pinterest: Find a treasure trove of creative ideas, tips, & resources to live a purposeful life!

But wait, there’s more! ✨Don’t miss out on these amazing resources that will guide and empower you on your journey:

🍽️ Free 7-Day Meal Plan Guide: Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with our delicious, easy-to-follow meal plans!

🛍️ Simple Purposeful Living Shop: Browse our curated collection of products that spark joy and make everyday living simple!

📝Simple Purposeful Living Blog: Dive into insightful articles, tips, and personal stories that will inspire you to live with purpose!

Together, let’s embrace the beauty of simple, purposeful living!💖

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices